Joe Biden: "This won't be a third Obama term in office"

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Barack Obama (left) and Joe Biden (on October 31st): "We have to deal with a completely different world"

Photo: JIM WATSON / AFP

The US election was a little more than three weeks ago.

Donald Trump has still not openly admitted his defeat - but at least finally cleared the way for an orderly handover of official business.

Joe Biden has now stepped in front of the cameras for his first TV interview since his election victory.

When asked about the many familiar faces among his cabinet nominations, he said on NBC: “This won't be a third Obama term in office.

We have to deal with a completely different world than during the Obama-Biden administration. ”Biden had served then-President Barack Obama for eight years as vice-president.

President Trump has completely changed the political environment.

“It has become 'America first' and 'America alone,'” Biden continues.

Alliances have been broken.

With his election for the post of the Cabinet, he wanted to represent American society, as well as the entire spectrum of the Democratic Party.

Even the nomination of a Republican who had voted for Trump, Biden did not want to rule out when asked.

It is his job to bring the country back together, said the 78-year-old.

Biden: "America is back, ready to lead the world"

Biden had previously presented his candidates for key foreign and security policy posts in the future government in his hometown of Wilmington.

Biden's longtime advisor Antony Blinken is nominated as Secretary of State, Alejandro Mayorkas, who was born in Cuba, as Secretary of Homeland Security.

Thomas-Greenfield is to represent the USA as ambassador to the UN in New York.

Former Secretary of State John Kerry has been appointed special envoy on climate issues by Biden.

Jake Sullivan is said to be his National Security Advisor.

The US President-elect said, "It's a team that reflects the fact that America is back, ready to lead the world instead of withdrawing from it."

Biden also welcomed the fact that the transition process before the change of government can now officially begin after a week-long blockade.

A corresponding decision by the responsible authority GSA had previously confirmed this.

"I am pleased to have received assurance from the GSA that there will be a smooth and peaceful transfer of power," said Biden.

Intelligence agencies can now write to Biden

His employees could now prepare for the upcoming challenges such as the corona pandemic.

In addition, he will now have access to the daily briefing of the US secret services.

There was a corresponding approval from the White House in the afternoon, a spokesman for the office of the director of the US intelligence services said on Tuesday (local time) on request.

In the United States, it is customary for the elected president to be informed of the intelligence services' findings on a daily basis before his inauguration in January - as is the incumbent.

According to reporters present in Wilmington on Tuesday, Biden said he had not yet received a briefing but would receive it regularly in the future.

The former Vice President wants to reverse the policies of predecessor Trump from day one.

Above all, he wants to return to important international agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement, which Biden can initiate by decree after the inauguration planned for January 20.

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jok / dpa